There are never enough slots in an Oscar lineup. For performers in films that haven’t been seen by enough voters, breaking through the hustle and bustle of awards season is nearly impossible. Enter a few reminders for voters to watch these six standout performances, each deserving a place in the conversation before ballots are cast.
Michele Austin – “Hard Truths” (Supporting Actress)
In Mike Leigh’s “Hard Truths,” Michele Austin shines as Chantal, a single mother and hairdresser, trying to bridge an emotional chasm between herself and her depressed sister, Pansy (Marianne Jean-Baptiste). Austin brings warmth and empathy to the role, offering a vibrant, hopeful counterpoint to her sister’s unrelenting bitterness. Her nuanced performance captures people’s helplessness when someone they love is in crisis. It’s an unforgettable turn in an intimate character study filled with moments of unexpected joy.
Carrie Coon – “His Three Daughters” (Best Actress)
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Emmy nominee Carrie Coon delivers one of her most compelling performances as Katie, the eldest of three sisters, reuniting to care for their dying father in Azazel Jacobs’ tender drama, “His Three Daughters.” Katie’s controlling nature and compulsive need for order is a tool to mask profound grief and fear. Coon masterfully reveals the hidden layers of a woman whose strength hides a profoundly broken core. Notably, Coon and her co-stars Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen, are all campaigning for supporting attention. But honestly, Coon is a leading lady, delivering an Oscar-worthy turn. The film features the star at her dynamic best.
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Jamie Lee Curtis – “The Last Showgirl” (Supporting Actress)
While Gia Coppola’s “The Last Showgirl” might seem like a vehicle for Pamela Anderson, but Jamie Lee Curtis delivers the film’s most compelling turn in over two decades, playing Annett, a seasoned Las Vegas performer grappling with the end of her career. Her work here surpasses her Oscar-winning performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Her quiet power stays with you – no more so than when she dances to “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”
Tommy Dewey – “Saturday Night” (Supporting Actor)
Jason Reitman’s comically charged “Saturday Night,” which recreates the first episode of the iconic sketch series, boasts a stellar ensemble cast. Yet it’s Tommy Dewey who steals the spotlight as Michael O’Donoghue, the show’s darkly comedic first head writer. Dewey’s razor-sharp timing and crackling chemistry with his co-stars make for the most memorable performance, which is not easy in a film featuring nearly 100 speaking parts. His ability to embody O’Donoghue’s biting wit and chaotic energy makes him an actor to watch.
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Misagh Zare – “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (Best Actor)
Mohammad Rasoulof’s Iranian thriller “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” is haunting, and much of its power lies in Misagh Zare’s arresting performance. As Iman, a judge living through political unrest in Tehran, Zare provides a character study of moral corruption. Zare’s performance leaves viewers breathless for nearly half of the film’s 168-minute runtime as Iman descends deeper into darkness. It’s a harrowing, unforgettable achievement that leaves an indelible impression.
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Josh O’Connor – “Challengers” (Supporting Actor)
You may have known Josh O’Connor as the stiff heir to the British throne in “The Crown.” But in Luca Guadagnino’s sports film “Challengers,” he trades his throne for a tennis racket and turns up his swagger meter to dangerous and brilliant levels. As Patrick, a former tennis player trying to recapture his once-celebrated form, burns up the screen alongside co-stars Zendaya and Mike Faist and leaves no churro unbitten. The Academy would be so lucky to invite this match point.
Conan O’Brien will host the 2025 Oscars ceremony, which will take place on March 2.
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Variety Awards Circuit: Oscars
Best Picture
“All We Imagine as Light”
“Anora”
“The Brutalist”
“A Complete Unknown”
“Conclave”
“Dune: Part Two”
“Emilia Pérez”
“Nickel Boys”
“The Substance”
“Wicked”
Director
Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez”
Sean Baker, “Anora”
Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist”
Payal Kapadia, “All We Imagine as Light”
James Mangold, “A Complete Unknown”
Actor
Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist”
Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown”
Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing”
Ralph Fiennes, “Conclave”
Sebastian Stan, “The Apprentice”
Actress
Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked”
Karla Sofía Gascón, “Emilia Pérez”
Mikey Madison, “Anora”
Demi Moore, “The Substance”
Fernanda Torres, “I’m Still Here”
Supporting Actor
Yura Borisov, “Anora”
Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”
Edward Norton, “A Complete Unknown”
Guy Pearce, “The Brutalist”
Jeremy Strong, “The Apprentice”
Supporting Actress
Monica Barbaro, “A Complete Unknown”
Jamie Lee Curtis, “The Last Showgirl”
Ariana Grande, “Wicked”
Isabella Rossellini, “Conclave”
Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez”
Original Screenplay
“All We Imagine as Light”
“Anora”
“The Brutalist”
“A Real Pain”
“The Substance”
Adapted Screenplay
“A Complete Unknown”
“Conclave”
“Emilia Pérez”
“Nickel Boys”
“Wicked”
Animated Feature
“Flow”
“Inside Out 2”
“Memoir of a Snail”
“Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”
“The Wild Robot”
Production Design
“The Brutalist”
“A Complete Unknown”
“Dune: Part Two”
“Nosferatu”
“Wicked”
Cinematography
“The Brutalist”
“A Complete Unknown”
“Conclave”
“Maria”
“Nosferatu”
Costume Design
“A Complete Unknown”
“Dune: Part Two”
“Gladiator II”
“Nosferatu”
“Wicked”
Film Editing
“Anora”
“A Complete Unknown”
“Conclave”
“Dune: Part Two”
“Emilia Pérez”
Makeup and Hairstyling
“The Apprentice”
“A Different Man”
“Emilia Pérez”
“The Substance”
“Wicked”
Sound
“Alien: Romulus”
“A Complete Unknown”
“Dune: Part Two”
“Emilia Pérez”
“Wicked”
Visual Effects
“Alien: Romulus”
“Deadpool & Wolverine”
“Dune: Part Two”
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”
“Wicked”
Original Score
“The Brutalist”
“Challengers”
“Conclave”
“Emilia Pérez”
“The Wild Robot”
Original Song
“Never Too Late” from “Elton John: Never Too Late”
“El Mal” from “Emilia Pérez”
“Sick in the Head” from “Kneecap”
“The Journey” from “The Six Triple Eight”
“Kiss the Sky” from “The Wild Robot”
Documentary Feature
“Black Box Diaries”
“Daughters”
“No Other Land”
“Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat”
“Union”
International Feature
“Emilia Pérez” from France
“Flow” from Latvia”
“I’m Still Here” from Brazil
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig” from Germany
“Vermiglio” from Italy
Animated Short
“A Bear Named Wojtek”
“A Crab in the Pool”
“Maybe Elephants”
“Wander to Wonder”
“Yuck!”
Documentary Short
“Eternal Father”
“I Am Ready, Warden”
“Once Upon a Time in Ukraine”
“Planetwalker”
“A Swim Lesson”
Live Action Short
“Dovecote”
“I’m Not a Robot”
“The Ice Cream Man”
“The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”
“Paris 70”